Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-01-05

"Althea Rose.n said her mother, III you
don't quit cryin', an light your candle, an
90 TO bed an behave yourself, I'll shake
you!"
Aud Althea lit her candle aud wsnt. The
| old whip -cracx was too much for her. But
when she was in her room alone, she
clinchod her fists, and shook her stubborn
head at herself in her little sooklng glass.
II won't" muttered she. "So.n
The next morning tue trees were all in
blossom, and Silas was out in his garden
working. He was all over his excitsmen,
OF last night. His mind was running In the
larger circle into which Mrs. Roses pro-
RoSs, Like cs ssopS in PSoSSd'i IN had shrHwn
He felt rs IL he had always been going to
DO married in a week.
''It's Jest such u mt rnin' as twas last
year, {" said he, when counted herin aft:'
the daffodils.n
''Silasin
"Why, Althea, you've come ag'ini'
She was flushed and trembling, but her
eyes were keen IL want TO tell you some.
thing, Silasn
You won't tsil mothers Promise you
won't tell promiss-promise.n
TO. Althea, what is iti'
"She'd kill me. You won't tcllt'
mo, never, longs liyei"-
She gave scared glance around her.
Mothers making mo marry you" said
SIDE, bluntly, AN l1don't want to-"
20, Althea!"
'Its the truth
Silas stood staring at her .pitifully. You
was so afraid Of her you didn't dare say
any thing, weren't you" said he.
Eyes, Twas"
You poor little thingl" Great tears ran
down Silns checks.
"Then needn't marry you, need IT.
Course you needn't
well, how can we fix itr" You know
we've got TO tell mother something"
II guess | don't know just what you
'Mother'll make an awful fuss; she's set
on my having you; she thinks you've got
property. An il she knew l was the one
that broke it of, she'd kill me. You've got
to make her think you're tho one"
"But / amt
THAT don't make any difference; you've
got to make her think So"
"But what shall say tho reason wasr'
Say you've thought it over, and you
don't know how to support wife" She'll
believe that. They oil know your father
was awful tight"
Tho bewilderment in Silas's face almost
obscured its awful sadness.
you won't let her blame me, anyhow,
will you, Silas"
mo; she sha'n't blams you. I'll tell lies
before she shall blame you"
you are awful good, Silas. Say, you
don't mind much, do your
"No. Don't think nothin' about me /
sha'n't mind I've got my flowers. Al
thea"
"what,
'Jdout know as you'll want to; I Jest
happened to think OF il, that's all You
know folks, when they're goin' to get mar
amt ever kissed me. I never thought
much about wantin' you to till now, when
you are goin Would you mind it TO kiss
mo once, I don't suppose you will want
to"
Eyes. will" said Althen; aud shs put
up her sweet face and kissed him.
He oloked back sob. You'd bettcr 60
now" said he, ''or your mothcr'll he won
derin' where you are"
She looked frightened. You be sure not
to let hcr blame me, !" she said as she turned
Eyes, I'll he sure. Don't you worry
Althea."
She disappeared mn l., \ gst the filmy green
bushes, and Ia "a lbvn on a stone under
tho cherrytre'. m Id his heal in his
hands.
When he got up he looked older. Sorrow
ut one Jerk had taken him farther out Of
his long childhood than the years had He
was step nearer tho rest OF the world; he
would not I've 80 odd, by that much, again.
He went mp through the garden to tho
house; he looked about him wondcringly
as he went. "Thar's been an awful change"
said he to himself. ~ guess | don't see
straight. The flowers an things look queer
as II la Int seen em before. It's worse
God in this. l don't know how TO go to
work TO stan it, Poor little thing she
sha'n't have no more trouble about It, nc
how"
Very close to the Rose house stood an.
other, tiny and modest and whitecur
tanned; but it had an eye and an ear over
alert i'm IL. The woman who lived there
was sickly, with too active mind for her
own narrow life, 50 she fastened 1t on her
neighbors. This last evening when Silas
went u tho Roses she knew IL, as usual.
When, by and by, she heard loud talk she
raised her window softly and listened. The
front door of the Rose house was evidently
open, and the takers were standing in the
hall.
She could only hear one voice to distin.
guish the words; that was Mrs Roses.
When she was excited she always spoke
very loud. You're worse than your father
was,n the listener heard her say, land he
was tighter than the bark OF tree; but he
want quite SO IN san but what he could get
married. Althea's we'll rid OF such poor
stick as you. Don't s'pose she'd he'd 'nough
to eat IL you'd married her, nor dress to
her back
listened greedily. When IL had ceased, and
Silas had crept down the path, and the
door had closed with great house liking
slam beb ind him. she felt moro healthily
alive than she bad for many day. Soon
all the town knew how Silas Vinton had
Tilted Althea Rose-because he was too
tight TO support her. His courtship had
made deal of laughing comment; now he
was mcrcilessly badgered. He shut him
self up with his flowers and bore it as we'll
as he gould. Once a neghbor he had given
vegetables to many time offered him
pay. That almost broke his heart. Then
others no longer asked for them, and he
understood why. He never met Althea at
all. For the next two years, except for
one or. two glimpses Of her from his win
dow, he would hardly have known she
lived in the same town.
In the winter Of the second year man
who came to bis house on an errand asked
him Il he knew his old girl was going to be
married.
Silas turned white. What do you
ipeanr' asked he
"Althea Rose is goin' to get married, IL
the felar don't back out cause he don't
want to support her What do you think
Of that"
Tn glad, il she likes him." said Silas.
well, mebbe when he comes to count up
the cost he ii think better ont"
Silas made no reply to the taunt., He
stood behind his windowshelves OF plants
walk Il don't wonder he talks so,' said
he. But thar want no other way TO save
her. ] had to have some reason. Tho worst
OF IL Is, 1t amt true
Sllas ported plants were very beautifui
that year; they were covered with
blossoms. Every one stopped to look at his
windows Silas sat behind them that day
after he heard the news, and watched the
street. He was hoping Althea would 60
by; be wanted TO see her She did come IN
sight toward night-a slender, girlish
figure, in some prim, eccentric winter garb,
as noticeable as her summer ono.
Silas ran to the door. "Althea."
.,Whatr' said she, standing. at the gate.
He went down tho steps and stood beside
her.
''See here, Althea. heard this morning
you was going to get married. Is il sou
Althea looked down. Yes
II Jest want to kuow-it's safe for you
to tell me- Althea; Id die sooner than any
body should know. jest want to know II
it's all right this time il you want him, OF
it's your mother making you, the way II
was before. Cause, il IL Is don't you
marry him Don't you be afraid of your
mother; I'll stan by you"
II al f1ht